The Labor enquirer., 1887-07-30
THE KNIGHTS.
Progress of the War Against
the Despots at Phila-
delphia.
Buchanan Elected Delegate to Mime.
apolIs by District Assembly
No. so.
Condensed from Boston Leader.


The Result in d. A. 80 of Massachusetts.-
The quarterly convention of D. A. No. 30
was opened last Tuesday week at Fal
River with unusual interest. The delega-
tion was not quite as large as on former
occasions, owing to many causes.
In the course of business General Sec
retary Litchman entered, but, either from
his diminutiveness or deep attention to
what was transpiring he approached the
venerable sage and took his seat without
a breath of recognition.
Mr.. Powderly's Endorsement of the
trades union antagonism is not favorably
received by the friends Of the general
amalgamation Of all section Of honorable
toll.
A resolution offered by Delegate Nolan,
Of Fall River, pledging the district dele
gates to refuse the acceptance Of g. NJ.
W. Powderlys determined resignation at
Minneapolis provoked hot debate, which
brought down the gavel Of the master
workman from time to time, reminding
the speakers OF the fve-minute limit.
The motion was finally adopted, and
Just as General Secretary Litchman
was moving for It's reconsideration, in
order, he said, TO settle the matter for the
session, George L. MoNeill entered and
spoke of the motion to reconsider. He
denounced the 40" method of forcing its
delegates To vote as unit upon any ques-
tion, and thought that the delegates sent
TO Minneapolis should be such men as
would themselves be the best judges of the
best interests of the order. The unpar-
liamentary and uncalled for introduction
OF the first motion. which obstructed and
delayed business, was only intensified and
prolonged by the motion for reconsidera-
tion. Tho whole proceeding suggested a
criticism that had better not have been
urged.
Several delegates whispered that in view
Of the persistent public utterances of re-
tirement from the lips Of Mr.. Powderly, it
was the most brazen and servile act of
man worship and sycophancy to force n
man into Office who trampled upon the
most sacred sections of the constitution
At Richmond, and tolerated the expulsion
% the cigarmakers at the direction Of n
body Of New York scabs through the
agency of Mr.. Mcguire, who took advan-
tage of the absence of the greater portion
of the delegates who had gone home.
Others spoke of his lack of stability
and inability to grapple with the more
profound and aggressive phases of the
labor problem, and his action in the west
ern difficulties was somewhat too harshly
condemned. Not n few denounced his
anti.trades union policy rs injurious and
obstructive to the spirit and progress of
the great labor cause. Whatever may
have been the promptings of this resolu-
tion in view of existing contention be-
tween the present administration and the
trades unions IL was entirely distasteful
aud not conducive to the spirit Of har-
mony.
The bitter feeling occasioned by the
anti.trades unionist resolution pledging
the district 10 the G.. NJ. W., matured
during Wednesday night, and on Thusrday
morning was the principal town and So
cIety topic. II is now asserted that they
were purposely and ingeniously sprung
upon the meeting when one-third of the
delegates had retired, by the expressed
will Of the general secretary.
The delegates elected to Minneapolis
are rs follows: X. Howard, L. 5. Blaine,
]. c, Short, NJ. J. Bishop, L. j. Slattery,
]. II. Melleo. W. y. Pattison, j. j. Crowley,
+. X. Foster and c. II. Litchman. The
alternates are George Z. Mcneil, ID. F..
MorelOnd, X. +. Grady, I. c. Thompson,
NJ. Z. Byrne, l.. II. Lavelle, A. A. Carlton
and Miss Hulda Loud. OF the ten elected
three are anti-Powderly, four pro-Pow-
derly and three doubtful.